House lawmakers want PH to rejoin ICC on Duterte charge hearing

Metro Manila, Philippines – Lawmakers filed resolutions calling on the government to rejoin the International Criminal Court, coinciding with The Hague-based tribunal’s confirmation of charges hearing against former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The three-member Makabayan bloc and the Akbayan representatives with Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao filed separate resolutions on Monday, Feb. 23. The country withdrew from the Rome Statute that created the ICC in 2019 under Duterte.

In the Makabayan resolution, lawmakers said rejoining the ICC would send a clear and strong message that the country honors its international obligations. 

In an interview, ACT Teacher’s party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said Filipinos need another venue in pursuing justice. 

“Kailangan may matatakbuhan ang mga Pilipinong naghahanap ng hustisya katulad ng nangyari dito ay hindi makakuha ng hustisya sa sarili nating mga korte,” he said.

[Translation: Filipinos should be able to run to an institution when seeking justice, especially in cases like this where justice would be elusive in our own courts.]

The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019 under the Duterte administration at the height of the bloody drug war. 

Despite this, the court maintains jurisdiction over crimes that happened from 2011 to 2019 when the country was still a treaty member. 

Duterte has been detained at an ICC facility since March 2025 to face murder charges for crimes against humanity in relation to the killings during his time as president and Davao city mayor.

Tinio said it was clear why the former president left the ICC .

“Alam niya na sabit siya rito…Pinapakita ngayon na mabuti na lang nasaklaw pa ng ICC iyong unang bahagi ng presidency ni Duterte dahil ngayon nakakakulong siya roon,” he said. 

[Translation: He knew he was implicated in this… It now shows that it was a good thing the ICC still covered the early part of Duterte’s presidency, because he is now detained there.]

Meanwhile, Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña said rejoining the ICC would mean having more accountability mechanisms. 

“Kung totoo iyong sinasabi ng Marcos administration na sila ay para sa karapatang pantao, iyon ang pinaka-logical na step, kasi walang unity kung walang justice,” he said in a chance interview at his group’s protest calling for justice for drug war victims.

[Translation: If what the Marcos administration is saying is true—that they stand for human rights—then that is the most logical step, because there can be no unity without justice.]